Hair stretching indicator



`uly 8, 1941. L D, KRQFF 2,248,683

HAIR STRETCHING INDICATOR Filed Deo. 27, 1939 l Biagi- 740114? 15 C; .g ,l W mmf l Patented July 8, 1941 .narran stares einem orties' 2,248,683 Y -HAIR. STRETCHING INDICATOR Leonard D. Kroi, Sterling, Ill.

Application December 27, 1939, Serial No. 311,187

Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in hair stretching indicators, and more particularly for use in connection with the mandrels or spindles employed in permanent hair waving inachines.

Heretofore, the operator of a permanent hair waving machine has had no means for accurately determining the tension of the curls of hair wound on the mandrels or spindles, whereby they may be formed of uniform tension, and he has depended entirely on guess Work and observation in attempting to get such uniform tension on the curls of hair. Different kinds of hair require diierent degrees of tension for proper and accurate results and when the operator depends upon this observation, it is diicult, if not impossible, for him to regulate properly the degree of tension to be applied to any particular type of hair in order to obtain a satisfactory curling effect thereof.

The object of this invention is to provide an accurate indication of the degree of curl applied by the operator to each mandrel or spindle which will enable the operator to turn the mandrel or spindle to the proper degree and then hold it in set position, thereby obtaining uniformity of result in accordance with the particular type Vof hair being curled. Y

This object is accomplished by the provision of a stretching device which functions also as a turning handle and which has provision for engaging the squared end of the mandrel for rotating said end to the required degree in order to impart the proper and desired tension to the hair, the degree of turning being indicated by the device so that the operator may know how much tension is applied thereto. One stretching indicator may be used for all of the mandrels of a hair waving machine since it is separable therefrom and may be applied to the successive mandrels as the operator rolls the hair thereon for turning the mandrels and simultaneously indicating the degree of tension applied to the hair thereon.

I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the tension device applied;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation .of my tension device and indicator;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View through the device with parts in 'elevation taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a top plan View of oneend portion thereof.

The invention is shown in Fig. 1, as applied to a conventional form of hair curler and holder, such as is used for imparting permanent waves to the hair. Such a hair curler` usually'comprises a pair of complementary clamping mem'- bers l, pivoted together at one end for receiving a group of hairs therebetween, after whichV the members I are retained in clamped relation by locking means designated generally bythe nu'- meral 2, which is located at the oppositeV end from the pivotal connection of the members. 'I'he clamping members I supportv upstanding brackets 3 on opposite ends thereof within which is mounted a mandrel or spindle 4, one endof Which has a squared portion designated 5in Fig. 4, which fis vadapted to t into a squared recess in the corresponding bracket 3, whilethe opposite end of the mandrel 4 is journaled inits adjacent end bracket 3.

The hair curling device Adescribed above is of conventional structure well-known in the Vart'. In the use thereof, it has been the practicefor the operator to apply a wrench to the squared end 5 of the mandrel for turning the sameto impart the required degree of tension to the hair wound thereon. This invention has provision for turning the mandrel and for indicating the tension' applied thereto according to the degree to which it is turned. The invention utilizes a tubular handle 6, having a hub 'I at one end thereof and in the opposite end is secured a shaft 8 fastened to the handle 6 by a cross pin 9. In the first-mentioned end of the handle 5Within the hub 1, isjournaled for relative turning movement a wrench Ill, the inner end of which is slotted at II to receive therein a bent end of a tightly coiled spring I2, the opposite end of said springbeing received in a slot I3 in the shaft 8, and'said spring Vbeing pinned respectively to the shaft and to the wrench. The outer end of the Wrench I0 is provided with a squared socket I4 for receiving the squared end 5 of the mandrel 4. A flange I5 is formed on the eXtreme outer end of the Wrench I0 to retain the parts in properly assembled relation. Surrounding the wrench II) beside the'hub 'I of the handle is a ratchet wheel 'I6 permanently' fixed to the end of the handle 6 and having peripheral ratchet teeth in position to be engaged by a pawl I1 pivotally supported at I8 on a plate" I9, which is arranged beside the ratchet wheel I6 and is journaled on the `periphery ofthe wrench I between said ratchet wheel and the flange I5. The upper end portion of the plate I9 is turned over at 2D to embrace the pivoted portion of the pawl I'I and form a secure support therefor, and a coil spring 2I is interposed between the portion 2D and the back of the pawl I'I, tending to force the pawl into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I5. The opposite end of the pawl I'I is provided with a thumb piece 22 for engagement by the operator to release the pawl from its engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

The front plate I9 has out-turned lugs 23 formed on opposite sides thereof in position for engaging on opposite sides of the adjacent end bracket 3 of the clamp, tending to maintain the proper relation of the mandrel 4 thereto during the turning movement of the mandrel.

In the operation of imparting a wave or curl to the hair, the strands of hair are clamped between the clamping members I at a pointadjacent the scalp, whereby the hair which projects between the clamping members I may be wound on the mandrel 4. The operator usually removes the mandrel from the holder during this winding of the' hair thereon and rotates the mandrel toward the scalp until substantially the entire strands of hair are wound thereon. as the mandrel reaches the holder, the operator places one end thereof in its journal in a bracket 3 of the holder, and engages the squared end 5 at the opposite end of the mandrel with the socket I4 of the wrench I0, While said squared end of the mandrel is out of its squared seat in the adjacent bracket 3. Then the operator turns the handle 6 toward him as viewed in Figs. l and 2, while retaining the front plate IS against turning movement therewith either by holding the plate by the lugs 23 or by engaging said lugs with opposite' sides of the adjacent bracket 3. This turning movement is permitted by the pawl I'I, riding over the teeth of the ratchet wheel I6. The periphery ofthe hub I of the handle is graduated or provided with indications thereon immediately beside the ratchet wheel adapted to register with the end of the pawl II, so as to indicate to the operator the degree through which the handle 6 and mandrel 4 have been rotated in 'this final winding of the hair thereon. The rotation of the handle 5 imparts turning movement to the wrench I0, through the shaft 8 and the spring I2, the latter being sufliciently tightly wound to impairJ corresponding turning movement to the wrench IU, while permitting some degree of resilience to avoid danger of pulling the hair or injury to the person whose hair is being curled.

When the proper degree of turning movement ls indicated, the operator removes the wrench ID from the squared end 5 of the mandrel and inserts said squared end into the squared socket in the adjacent bracket 3, holding the hair thus tightly wound on the mandrel where it remains for the proper and desired length of time to set the curl therein.

After removal of the wrench from the mandrel, the operator may release the pawl I'I from the ratchet wheel by depressing the thumb piece 22 and then rotate the handle in the opposite direction back to the Zero position, when it is then ready for use on a succeeding mandrel used on another curl. The operator may, however, rotate the handle in a forward direction to its zero position without the necessity for reversing it if desired, whichever is more convenient, and

in either event, it will then be ready for subsequent use.

In this way, the desired degree of tension may be imparted to the hair wound on the mandrel with assurance by the operator that uniform tension is applied to all of the curls, which tension may be varied for different persons, according to the characteristics of the hair thereof.

I claim:

l. In a hair curler, the combination with a hair holder having a mandrel adapted for the winding of hair thereon, of a winding device for the mandrel comprising a wrench for engaging the mandrel to turn the same, a handle for the wrench, a ratchet wheel fixed relative to the handle, a support operatively connected with the wrench for turning movement of the wrench relative thereto, means for connecting said support with the hair holder for holding said support stationary during winding of the mandrel, and a pawl carried by the support in position for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

2. A hair tensioning` device comprising a wrench adapted for engagement with a hair winding mandrel, a handle connected with the wrench for turning movement thereof, a plate journaled on the wrench adjacent the handle for turning movement of the wrench relative thereto, a pawl carried by the plate, a ratchet wheel fixed to the handle between said handle and the plate in position for engagement thereof by the pawl, and means on the handle coacting with the pawl for indicating the degree of turning movement of the handle relative thereto.

3. A hair tensioning device comprising a handie', a wrench connected with the handle and adapted for engagement with a hair winding mandrel for turning the same, la ratchet wheel fixed relative to the handle, a plate operatively connected with the handle for turning movement of the handle relative thereto, said plate being adapted to be held stationary during winding of the mandrel, and a pawl mounted on the plate in position for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel.

4. A hair tensioning device comprising a tubular handle, a shaft fixed in one end thereof, a wrench journaled in the opposite end thereof and having a socket adapted to receive an end portion of a hair winding mandrel for rotating said mandrel, a coiled spring connecting the adjacent ends of the shaft and wrench for imparting turning movement from the shaft to the wrench, said handle having an enlarged hub thereon provided with peripheral graduations, a ratchet wheel fixed to the end of the handle beside said hub, a plate journaled on the wrench beside the ratchet wheel for turning movement of the handle relative thereto, a pawl pivotally supported on the plate in` position for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel and ooacting with the graduations on the hub for indicating the degree of turning movement of the handle relative to the plate, said plate having out-turned lugs adapted to embrace .a hair holder for the mandrel to hold the plate in stationary position relative thereto.

5. A hair tensioning device, comprising' a tubular handle, a shaft fixed in one end thereof, a wrench journaled in the opposite end 'thereof and having a socket in the outer end thereof parting turning movement from the handle to the Wrench, a ratchet Wheel Xed to the end portion of the handle adjacent the wrench, a plate connected with the handle for turning movement of the handle relative thereto, said plate being adapted to be held stationary during Winding of the mandrel, and a paWl mounted on the plate in position for engaging the teeth of the ratchet Wheel.

6. A hair tensioning device, comprising a tubular handle, a shaft xed in one end thereof, a Wrench journaled in the opposite end thereof and having a socket in the outer end thereof adapted to receive an end portion of a hair Winding Inandrel for rotating said mandrel, and a coiled spring housed in :the handle between the shaft and Wrench and connecting the adjacent ends of said shaft and Wrench together for imparting turning movement from the handle to the Wrench, a ratchet Wheel fixed to the end portion of the handle adjacent the wrench, a plate connected with the handle for turning movement of the handle relative thereto, said plate being adapted to be held stationary during winding of the mandrel, and a pawl mounted on the plata in position for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel, said plate having out-turned lugs in position to engage a hair holder for the mandrel to hold the plate stationary during Winding of the mandrel.

7. A hair tensioning device comprising a handle, a Wrench connected with the handle and adapted for engagement With a hair Winding mandrel for turning the same, a ratchet Wheel iiXed relative to the handle, a plate operatively w connected with the handle for turning movement of the handle relative thereto, said plate being adapted to be held stationary during winding of the mandrel, and a paWl mounted on the plate in position for engaging the teeth of the ratchet Wheel, said plate having outturned lugs thereon in position to engage a hair holder for the mandrel to hold the plate stationary during Winding of the mandrel.

8. In a hair curler, the combination with a hair holder having a mandrel adapted for the Winding of hair thereon, of a Winding device for the -mandrel comprising a Wrench for engaging the mandrel to turn the same, a handle for the Wrench, a ratchet wheel xed relative to the handle, a support operatively connected with the wrench for turning movement of the Wrench relative thereto, means for connecting said support With the hair holder for holding said support stationary during Winding of the mandrel, a pavrl carried by the support in position for engaging the teeth of the ratchet Wheel, and cooperating means between the support and the handle for indicating the extent of relative turning movement thereof.

9. In a hair curler, the combination With a hair holder having a mandrel adapted for the Winding of hair thereon, of a Winding device for the mandrel comprising a Wrench for engaging the mandrel to turn `the same, a handle for the Wrench, a support operatively connected with the Wrench for turning movement of `the wrench relative thereto, means for connecting said support with the hair holder for holding said support stationary during Winding oi' the mandrel, and cooperating means between the support and the handle for indicating the extent of relative turning movement thereof.

10. In a hair curler, the combination With a hair holder having a mandrel adapted for the Winding of hair thereon, of a winding device for the mandrel, comprising a Wrench for engaging the mandrel to turn the same, a handle for the wrench, a plate operatively connected With the wrench for turning movement of the Wrench relative thereto, said plate having out-turned lugs thereon embracing the hair holder for holding the plate stationary during Winding of the mandrel, and cooperating means between the plate and the handle for indicating the extent of relative turning movement thereof.

LEONARD D. KROFF, 

